Vehicle body door of flush type



Jan. 4, 1955 E. F. M HNRY 2,693,466

VEHICLE BODY DOOR OF FLUSH TYPE Filed May 2, 1952 INVENTOR, ELMER F.HENRY, 25 110 L/ A Q BY/ United States Patent VEHICLE BODY DOOR 0F FLUSHTYPE Elmer F. McHenry, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,677

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-23) This invention relates to vehicle body doors offlush type, and more particularly to a sliding door and door frameassembly providing a closure for a vehicle body portal, and which whenclosed, lies flush with the side or end of the closure, with obviousadvantages in better sealing effects and improved appearance.

This applicant is aware of numerous attempts heretofore made toward thedesign of sliding doors of those types intended to lie flush with theside of the structure served thereby, when the door is in closedposition. Doors of this general type are of advantage particularly incertain railway cars, truck bodies and in other vehicles wherein it isdesirable to bring the door to a flush position when closed, withnumerous recognized advantages. However, those assemblies heretoforecommercially available have presented many disadvantages, among whichmay be noted a practical difiiculty of seating the door firmly into aflush position when closed; frequent difiiculties in manually releasingthe door from fully closed position, to initiate its opening movement;an inability to effect an air tight relation between the door and framemembers when the door is closed, and particularly under icingconditions, difiiculty has been experienced in releasing the door forfree opening or closing move ment, in any position. The inventionaccordingly has, as a general and principal objective, to overcome theaforesaid difiiculties by means of an improved sliding door constructionof flush type which is low in cost, may be produced entirely of readilyobtainable materials of rugged construction, and will operateservice-free over long periods of time.

More particularly stated, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide an improved low cost, fixed camming device actingon the leading edge of the door as same is brought to a closed position,for causing a translator-y movement of at least the leading edge of 30the door, into a position flush with the adjacent wall of the enclosingstructure.

An additional and highly valuable object of the present improvements isattained in an improved manually actuated door-shifting device foreffecting a translatory I;

movement of the trailing part of the door selectively into and out of aflush, door-closed position.

Yet another object of the invention is realized in a generally improved,low-cost, rigid, vibration free metal frame structure for a sliding doorof flush type, in which the door and frame assembly may be produced andsold as a package unit, for installation as a facility to be added toexisting vehicle bodies, or optionally, as original equipment.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the presentimprovements will more clearly appear from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment and a minor variant thereof,particularly when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the rear portionof one side of a motor truck in which the body is equipped with presentimprovements;

Fig. 2 is a considerably enlarged sectional view as taken along line 22of Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a sectional view taken in a horizontal plane identified as tolocation by line -5 of Fig. l. and showing a portion of the door, frameand guide elements related as same would appear when the door openingFig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the door as same wouldappear when door-opening movement is initiated, or door closing movementcompleted, but for a final translatory shift of the door;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing theparts as disclosed by Figs. 3 and 4 but with the door in fully closedposition, flush with the sides of the vehicle body;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section as taken along line 6-6 of Fig.l, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view in a horizontal plane through thetrailing margin of the door and adjacent guide channel, showing avertical door frame element carrying a compressive door-sealing strip.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first toFig. 1, there is shown a rear portion of the right hand side of a truckbody which of itself may be of conventional type, and which is equippedwith the subject door assembly. Besides the sliding door generallyindicated at 10, Fig. 1 shows a body side wall SW, a sill S and certainother conventional elements of structure. The door 10 is of slidabletype. As recognized in the trade, this designation more usually than notcontemplates provision for rolling support of the door above or belowthe door, as is provided in the present case through rollers 11 set intothe lower margin of the door as will appear from Fig. 2, and providingfor rolling engagement with a subjacent support later described.

In order to enable the door and door frame assembly to be produced,adjusted, packaged and sold as a useful article of manufacture ready forinstallation in existing truck or other vehicle bodies, or similarlyadapted for installation in new vehicle bodies, it is a preference toprovide a frame for the door of definite dimensions in relation to thedoor. In the present example this frame structure includes a channelmember 12 located horizontally below the door, the base of which isengaged by the rollers 11, and which provides a firm guiding support forthe door throughout its range of travel between fully open position andfully closed position, the latter shown by Figs. 1 and 5. A counterpartof the channel 12 is shown in inverted relation at 13, extendedhorizontally along the top of the path of the door 10, the channels 12and 13 hearing a definite guiding relation to the lower and uppermargins of the door respectively. Each of the channels 12 and 13 isprovided with an external longi tudinal securement web 14 which may besecured as by welding or bolting to the upper portion of the bodystructure as shown by Fig. 2, and to the floor, deck or sill structureof the truck body, being shown as attached in Fig. 2, to the floor FL.

The channels 12 and 13 also constitute the bottom and top respectivelyof the metal door frame. The side verticals or stiles of this frame willbe seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and are there shown as metal angles of a Zshaped section designated at 15 and 16, the latter being welded orotherwise secured to the channel members 12 and 13. The door opening D0is thus of rectangular aspect. assuming this to be the shape of the door10, but the opening proper is of lesser dimensions than the width andheight of the door, with the effect that the mar ins of the door overlapand firmly abut the adjacent faces of the elements 12, 13, 15 and 16when the door is closed.

It is a preference so to form the door-frame portion of each of thechannels 12 and 13, that each presents a channel of approximately doublewidth, in this case an inside width slightly greater than twice thethickness of the door. That portion of each of the channels 12 and 13which lies to the left (in the drawings) of the door frame, is referredto as of single width, i. e. of a width to accommodate and guidingly toreceive, of course with reasonable tolerances, the upper and lowermargins of the door as same is moved into or out of its fully openposition.

Located in the double-width portion of each of the channels 12 and 13,and at that end of each channel opposite the leading margin 17 of theclosed door 10, is a fixed camming ramp 18 in the channel 12, and aninmovement is initiated, or the closing movement of the ettedcounterpart 20 in the inverted top channel 13.

door almost completed;

Each such ramp presents a camming face to the leading edge of the dooras same is moved to the right (Fig. 1) toward its fully closed position,whichcamming action results, as will appear from acomparison of Figs. 3and 4, in a definite translatory movement of this door margin into afully closed position flush with the side wall structure SW of thevehicle body.

A convenient low cost and economical construction of the cammin ramps isexemplified by Figs. 3, 4, and 6, and particularly from Fig. 6, whereinit is seen that this element consists of a horizontal, substantiallytriangular base 21, depending from which in a right angled relation is avertical flange 22. Thus the pair of ramps may be economically formedeither of an angle stock, or by appropriate division of a channelelement of suitable width. Assembly of the ramps such as 18 and 20 intothe double width channel portions is conveniently effected as by boltsor rivets 23, or by welding if desired. It may here be noted that thedouble width portion of each of the channel elements 13 may beeconomically realized by selection of a channel stock such that, bytransverse incision of one of the side flanges, and the flattening ofsuch flange into the plane of the base, the double width portion isreadily produced.

Reference is now made to the unique manual camming provision carried byand particularly serving the trailing portion of the door, the rearmostor trailing margin of which is identified for reference at 25 (Fig. 1).This provision consists in the present disclosure of a vertical rod orrock shaft 26, located vertically, preferably within the door, in aboutthe position shown by Fig. l. The top face and bottom face of the doorin the region about the ends of the rod 26 are recessed to provide campockets 27, and located within each of these pockets is a double end ordouble arm cam indicated at 28. This double end element is convenientlyformed with a square center aperture overfitting a squared end at eachextremity of the rod 26, or may alternately be welded or otherwiserigidly afiixed to the rod so that the cams 28 may each be moved as bypartial rotation in a horizontal plane adjacent the base of the adjacentchannel 12 or 13.

The door is provided between its upper and lower margins and at a heightfor convenient manual access, with a handle cavity or recess opening tothe outside of the door and indicated at 30. So mounted as to beretractable within the recess 30 and when in an out-of-use position, tobe substantially shrouded by the recessed portion, is a cam actuatinghandle 31 pivoted as at 32 to the rod 26. Thus the handle 31 may, foruse, be lifted and angularly shifted so as to effect a partial rotationof the cams 28 through the rock shaft. The handle 31 may also serve,when needed, directly as a door-actuating element incident to itssliding or rolling movement, and to assist in such movement both slidingand translatory, there is provided a handle 33 (Fig. 1) which as shown,preferably bears a somewhat oblique relation to the face of the door 10.

The action of the camming device as described may be fully apparent, butit may be noted for completeness that, assuming the door to be fullyclosed and in its flush position as shown by Fig. 5, with the handle 31retracted, the cams 28 will lie substantially in the midplane of thedoor. When the rod 26 is rotated through 90 degrees, the engagement ofthe extremity of one of the arms of each member 28 with a fixedprojection 34 which may consist of a fragmentary portion of the originalside flange of the double width channel, will effect a positivetranslatory movement of the trailing portion of the door 10 in adislodging, outward direction, thus bringing the trailing margin of thedoor to a position such that it may be freely rolled toward openposition. This facility is of a considerable advantage in breaking anice seal, as under conditions of freezing rain, sleet or snow. Undercertain conditions also it may be desired to utilize the cams 28 tocomplete the flush relation of the door when brought opposite the dooropening. Thus it will appear, with the parts related for example, asshown by Fig. 4, that appropriate rotation of the rod 26 will alsoeffect a positive camming action of the door into its fully seated andclosed position.

A minor modification of the structure heretofore described is here notedas of particular value when the improved door assembly is utilized toserve refrigerated vehicle bodies, such as a refrigerated truck forexample, in which augmented door sealing provisions are desirable. Sucha modification is shown by Fig. 7, wherein one of 4 the vertical anglemembers defining the door frame opening is indicated at 49, this numeraldesignating the web portion of a metal strip of angle characteristicsand of a generally Z shaped section. At one extremity of the web 40 is aflange 41 which is employed for attachment to the top and bottomchannels. The oppositely extending flange 42 results with the web, in aU shaped channel which receives a strip, shown as of rectangularsection,

of a highly compressive rubber or rubber-like material,

such as a cellular or foam stock, this strip being indicated at 43. Theremaining door frame members may of course be similarly provided withcompressive sealing strips.

It will now have become obvious that, as the door is brought fully intoclosed and flush position, the strip 43 being of suitable depth, samewill be held under at least a moderate compression by the closed door,thus providing an effective marginal air seal in this zone.

Assuming now that the door 10 is fully closed and flush t as shown byFig. 5, and it be desired to open same, the first operation consists ofa partial rotation of the rod 26 say through 90 degrees, with the aid ofhandle 31. This will occur with the parts as shown by the drawing, in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 5), thus bringing one of the arms 28against the abutment 34, positively prying and dislodging particularlythe trailing portion of the door, outwardly of the door frame to bringsame into the outermost part of the double width portions of channels 12and 13. The handle 31 is then moved to bring I the elements 28 back intothe confines of the door, and

through manipulation of the handle 33, aided if desired, by grasping thehandle 31, the door is slidably moved to the left in the drawings. Asthe leading end 17 of the door is brought outwardly as permitted by theslope of the ramps 18 and 20, the door moves linearly when clearing theramps, to the left (Fig. 1) through the single-width portions of theguide channels.

Closure of the door involves merely a reverse order of the sequencedescribed. The door is moved to the right from open to closed positions,to that region wherein the margin 17 first engages the elements 22 ofthe camming ramps 18 and 20. Continued movement toward closed positioncauses the ramp to deflect the margin 17 back against the flange of theframe member 1a, the latter 1 serving also as a stop to terminatethe'siiding, closing movement of the door. With or without the aid ofthe cams 28, the trailing margin of the door is given an inwardtranslatory movement either by direct push, as is usually sufficient, orby appropirate rotation of the cams I which in this case, abut in wipingengagement, the inner face of the outer flange of each of the doublewidth channels. As soon as the trailing edge of the door is fully seatedin flush position, the abutments '34 will engage the ends of the cams 28if projected inwardly of the door, and will thus automatically restorethe rod 26 and handle 31 to an out-of-action position.

It will now have appeared that the structure described will serve torealize fully each of the several objectives hereinabove expressed, andothers implied from the de-' A script1on of structure and function.Although the inven- 60 .able door, a bottom channel which receives andsupports the lower margin of the door in guiding relation thereto, aninverted top channel located to receive and guide the upper margin ofthe door, the channels being of a length to engage the door throughout apath including a fully open position and a fully closed door position, apair of vertical angle members attached to and bridging the channelmembers to define therewith a rectangular door opening and frame, inwhich the door opening is of lesser width and height than the door sothat when the door is closed, the frame elements are marginallyoverlapped by the door, the channel members forming the top and thebottom of the door frame and being, in the region of the door frame, ofa width substantially equal to twice the thickness of the door, thechannel members being provided over at least a substantial portion ofthe length of each, with an intermediate, longitudinal, external webportion,

the web portion of the lower channel being adapted for attachment to avehicle floor or sill adjacent the channel, and the web of the upperchannel being adapted for attachment to an upper longitudinal fixedelement of the vehicle body, a camming ramp set into and attached toeach of the double-width channel portions, and adapted to coact with theleading vertical margin of the door as same is brought toward and intoclosed position, to effect a translatory movement of the leading doormargin into a flush position against the adjacent vertical member of thedoor frame structure, a manual door-camming device carried by the door,located forwardly of its trailing margin, said camming device includinga vertical rod operable about its axis and located within the door, apair of camming arms attached to the lower end of said rod, a similarpair of camming arms attached to the upper end thereof, the rod and armsbeing movable to positions such that the arms may be brought within theconfines of the door and selectively movable to effect a positivetranslatory displacement of the trailing margin of the door into and outof a flush, door-closed position, the door being provided with a handlerecess, a handle extending into said recess and having an operativeconnection with said rod, a pair of rollers set into the lower marginalportion of the door and projecting therefrom into rolling engagementwith the bottom channel, and a door handle fixed to the door close toits vertical leading margin and bearing an acuteangle relation to thesurface of the door.

2. A door assembly of flush type for use as a vehicle body closure, theassembly including a slidable door, a bottom channel which receives thelower margin of the door, an inverted top channel located to receive theupper margin of the door, the channels being of a length to engage thedoor throughout a path including a fully open position and a fullyclosed door position, a pair of vertical angle members bridging thechannel members to define a rectangular door frame, the channel membersbeing, in the region of the door frame, of a width substantially equalto twice the thickness of the door, the channel members being providedover at least a substantial portion of the length of each, with anintermediate, longitudinal, external web portion, the web portion of thelower channel being adapted for attachment to a lower element of thevehicle body adjacent the channel, and the web of the upper channelbeing adapted for attachment to an upper element of the vehicle body, acarnming ramp attached to each of the double-width channel portions, andadapted to coact with the leading vertical margin of the door as same isbrought toward and into closed position, to effect a translatorymovement of the leading door margin against the adjacent vertical memberof the door frame, a manual door-camming device carried by the door,located near its trailing margin, said camming device including avertical rod located within the door, a pair of camming arms attached tothe lower end of said rod, a similar pair of camming arms attached tothe upper end thereof, the rod and arms being movable to positions suchthat the arms may be brought within the confines of the door and beingselectively movable to effect a positive translatory displacement of thetrailing margin of the door into and out of a door-closed position, thedoor being provided with a handle recess, a handle extending into saidrecess and having an operative connection with said rod, and rollers setinto the lower marginal portion of the door and projecting therefrominto rolling engagement with the bottom channel.

3. In a sliding door assembly for vehicle bodies, the assemblycomprising a door, a bottom channel which receives the lower margin ofthe door, an inverted top channel located to receive the upper margin ofthe door, a pair of vertical angle members bridging the channel membersto define a door frame, each of the channel members being provided withan intermediate web portion, the web portions being adapted forattachment to the vehicle body, cam means in the channels for directingthe leading margin of the door against the adjacent vertical member ofthe door frame, a manual door-camming device carried by the door, saidcamming device including a vertical rock shaft located within the doornear its trailing margin, a pair of camming arms attached to the lowerand to the upper ends of said shaft, the shaft and arms being movable sothat the arms may be brought within the confines of the door, and beingselectively movable to effect a positive translatory displacement of thetrailing margin of the door into and out of a door-closed position, thedoor being provided with a handle recess, and a handle extending intosalidf recess and having an operative connection with said s a t.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,015,405 Schroyer Jan. 23, 1912 1,077,798 Burgoon Nov. 4, 19131,152,261 Andrus Aug. 31, 1915 2,114,743 Lohrman Apr. 19, 1938 2,228,711Steuber Jan. 14, 1941

